Sitarla

The sitarla (Japanese: シターラ, Hepburn: shitāra) is an instrument invented in 2000 by Japanese musician Hideki Ishima that combines aspects of the sitar with the solid body electric guitar. It is a hollow-bodied instrument, 3 1/2 tones lower than a guitar, with only three existing in the world as of 2008.

Ishima said he had the idea for the instrument 15 years prior, but everybody told him he was crazy. He now plays the instrument exclusively, and it has replaced his guitar playing in Flower Travellin' Band. It is featured on their 2008 album We Are Here.